Mark Speakman
NSW Leader of the Opposition
Natalie Ward Shadow
Minister for Transport and Roads
Damien Tudehope
Shadow Treasurer
The Minns Labor Government has doubled down on spin while commuters in Western Sydney are stuck in traffic and cut off from future rail investment.
Today’s media release from its Roads Minister referred to “vanity projects”, an apparent reference to generational Metro investments and motorways, a stunning admission of this do-nothing government’s lack of vision and ambition. Instead the Government is now handing out press releases with vague timelines, offering zero clarity for families crying out for real infrastructure.
The NSW Minns Labor Government’s refusal to commit to long-promised Metro extensions to the new Western Sydney Airport – and then apparently calling them “vanity projects” – shows just how out-of-touch this government is with the future needs of our state.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said that while the former Liberal–National Coalition Government delivered the North West Metro, the South West Metro, WestConnex, the M12 and the first stage of the Parramatta Light Rail, Chris Minns and Labor are cutting, delaying and spinning.
“Chris Minns needs to explain how his Government can call future Metro connections to a brand new international airport a ‘vanity project’.
If the Roads minister was referring to other projects as ‘vanity projects’, the Premier needs to come clean on what he thinks they are,” Mr Speakman said.
Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads Natalie Ward said families in Western Sydney don’t need spin – they need transport options that work - Labor has ditched real rail investments and is now dressing up planning dollars as progress.
“No new major roads are being built, no trains are being extended, and no congestion is being busted,” Mrs Ward said.
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said Labor used to talk about delivering for the suburbs – now they call rail projects to Western Sydney vanity and hope no one notices they’re pulling the pin.
“The only thing getting a green light under Labor is another media release,” Mr Tudehope said.
The Opposition will fight to ensure the infrastructure Western Sydney deserves doesn’t become just another broken Labor promise.